What is the Capital of Lebanon? - Capital-of.com Dates of religious and Civil holidays around the world. Capital of Lebanon The Capital City of Lebanon (officially named Lebanese Republic) is the city of Beirut. The population of Beirut in the year 2007 was 4,099,000. Lebanon is an Arabic speaking country on the coasts of the Mediterranean Sea. Additional Information Beirut | national capital, Lebanon | Britannica.com national capital, Lebanon Alternative Titles: Bayrut, Berot, Beyrouth, Colonia Julia Augusta Felix Berytus Related Topics Beirut, Arabic Bayrūt, French Beyrouth, capital, chief port, and largest city of Lebanon . It is located on the Mediterranean coast at the foot of the Lebanon Mountains . Beirut, Lebanon Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Beirut is a city of baffling contradictions whose character blends the sophisticated and cosmopolitan with the provincial and parochial .

Before 1975 Beirut was widely considered the most thoroughly Westernized city in the Arab Middle East; after that, however, 15 years of civil war ravaged most parts of the city and eroded much of the lustre that had formerly concealed the Arab—as distinct from the Levantine—side of its character. Despite the sectarian and ideological passions unleashed by the civil war, Beirut retains its basically liberal and tolerant way of life, albeit in changed circumstances. In the 1990s Beirut began extensive rebuilding efforts to restore its economic base and cultural landmarks. Area governorate, 7 square miles (18 square km); city, 26 square miles (67 square km). Pop. (2003 est.) city, 1,171,00; (2005 est.) urban agglom., 1,777,000. Physical and human geography The landscape The city site The city sits atop two hills, Al-Ashrafīyah (East Beirut) and Al-Muṣayṭibah (West Beirut), that protrude into the sea as a roughly triangular peninsula.

In the immediate hinterland lies a narrow coastal plain (Al-Sāḥil) that extends from the mouth of the Nahr Al-Kalb (Dog River) in the north to that of the Nahr Al-Dāmūr (Damur River) in the south. Climate Beirut has a subtropical climate that is cool and temperate in winter and hot and humid in summer. In January, the coolest month, the average afternoon maximum temperature is 62 °F (17 °C), and the nighttime low is 51 °F (11 °C). Comparable maximum and minimum temperatures in July are 87 and 73 °F (31 and 23 °C). The rainy season extends from mid-autumn to early spring, and the average annual rainfall is 36 inches (914 mm). The city plan Verkhoyansk Under the Ottoman vilâyet administration and the French mandate , the growth of Beirut was planned, but after independence in 1943 it was as haphazard as it was rapid.

It is estimated that the population of the city increased 10-fold between the early 1930s and early 1970s, and the city’s area grew to three times the size it had been in 1900. By the 1950s few traces of the old city were left, and most of those were destroyed in the 1975–90 civil war. Street plans and block arrangements in the city and its suburbs are not consistent or uniform. In most quarters, modern high-rise buildings, walk-up apartments, slum tenements, modern villas, and traditional two-story houses with red-tiled roofs—all in varying states of repair—stand side by side. After 1975 countless houses and apartments, particularly in West Beirut, were forcibly occupied by refugees and squatters from rural areas, especially from the Shīʿite areas of southern Lebanon. The downtown area of central Beirut (the old city) was destroyed during the civil war, becoming a belt of squatter-occupied ruins between East and West Beirut.

Because of the sporadic fighting that occurred between rival factions, central Beirut could not be reconstructed during the war, and all business moved out of the area to establish new premises in the Christian and Muslim sides of the city. When the war ended in 1990, strong divisions arose between official and popular opinion over plans for reconstructing the old city. Standing property rights, which were largely in the hands of Sunnite Muslim and Christian landowners, clashed with the then de facto situation that most of the resident squatters in the area were Shīʿite Muslims. Progress in the direction of reconstruction has thus been slow. The people Capitals & Cities: Fact or Fiction? According to the government, the resident population of Beirut is more or less evenly divided between Muslims and Christians. In the absence of reliable statistics, however, this official supposition has never been possible to verify. The influx of large numbers of Shīʿites into West and central Beirut during the civil war probably tipped the population balance in favour of the Muslims. The overwhelming majority in both religious groups—Christians and Muslims—is ethnically Arab and includes Palestinian refugees, Syrian residents, and others. The most important ethnic minority is the Christian Armenians; there is also a Kurdish ethnic minority among the Muslims.

East Beirut is almost solidly Christian, West Beirut is predominantly Muslim, and a number of mixed neighbourhoods (notably in the district of Raʾs Bayrūt) are cosmopolitan in character. The small Jewish community , once concentrated in the downtown neighbourhood of Wādī Abū Jamīl, was reduced further by emigration during the war. Most of those who remained have shifted their residence to East Beirut and adjacent Christian suburbs. The larger Christian communities are the Maronites and the Greek Orthodox; the Christian minorities, apart from the Armenians, include Greek Catholics, Protestants, Roman Catholics, and others. Originally, the Sunnites were the dominant Muslim community, but Shīʿite Muslims began moving into the city in increasing numbers in the 1960s. Patrons seated at an outdoor café in Beirut. Jon Arnold Images/SuperStock Ringling Bros. Folds Its Tent Between 1952 and 1975 Beirut was the hub of economic, social, intellectual , and cultural life in the Arab Middle East . In an area dominated by authoritarian or militarist regimes, the Lebanese capital was generally regarded as a haven of liberalism, though a precarious one.

With its seaport and airport—coupled with Lebanon’s free economic and foreign exchange system, solid gold-backed currency, banking-secrecy law, and favourable interest rates—Beirut became an established banking centre for Arab wealth, much of which was invested in construction, commercial enterprise, and industry (mostly the manufacture of textiles and shoes, food processing, and printing). Foreign banking and business firms found in Beirut an ideal base for their operations in the Arab Middle East. The “free zone” of Beirut port was a leading entrepôt for the region. A skilled professional class provided varied sophisticated services for a pan-Arab clientele . Beirut was also a centre for tourism. The large number of daily and weekly newspapers, journals, and other periodicals, which were normally uncensored, kept the Arab world informed about regional and world developments and provided a full array of editorial opinion. Beirut’s schools, colleges, and universities—the American University of Beirut , St. Joseph University, Lebanese University, and Beirut Arab University—attracted students from many Arab countries. An underlying lack of consistency and organization, however, and an undercurrent of social and political unrest and intersectarian conflict never escaped notice.

Connect with Britannica Facebook Twitter YouTube Instagram Pinterest Beirut became a prominent centre for Palestinian resistance organizations after the Arab-Israeli war of 1967 and became the headquarters of the movement after the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) in Jordan was crushed in 1970. Arab nationalist and leftist political parties established armed militias for themselves, often in association with the Palestinian resistance movement. When the PLO was trapped by Israeli troops in West Beirut in 1982, it was removed from Lebanon by multinational forces. Sectarian violence continued after the Israeli withdrawal, destroying the established order of the city. Whether or not Beirut can regain its former position as the hub of the Arab Middle East remains uncertain. This it certainly ceased to be after 1975. The incessant fighting that began with the civil war, the Israeli bombing of West Beirut, and the chronic shelling that continued after the Israeli withdrawal all ate away at the city’s infrastructure . The Green Line established from the 1970s until 1990 to separate the Christian and Muslim factions in East and West Beirut, respectively, became a dangerous barricade dividing the city.

Businesses and residents alike left the city as hopes for a cease-fire waned, and even basic services such as water and electricity came to be only sporadically available. Even in those bad years, however, economic activity in Beirut never ceased entirely. Industry, reverting in many cases from the factories to home production, continued to supply domestic and Arab markets, where Lebanese goods remained in high demand. With press censorship still the rule in many Arab countries, Lebanese printing, catering to the Arab world at large, actually expanded during the war years to become one of the country’s major industries. History The early period The antiquity of Beirut is indicated by its name, derived from the Canaanite name of Beʾerōt (Wells), referring to the underground water table that is still tapped by the local inhabitants for general use. Although the city is mentioned in Egyptian records of the 2nd millennium bce, it did not gain prominence until it was granted the status of a Roman colony, the Colonia Julia Augusta Felix Berytus, in 14 bce. The original town was located in the valley between the hills of Al-Ashrafīyah and Al-Muṣayṭibah.

Its suburbs were also fashionable residential areas under the Romans. Between the 3rd and 6th centuries ce, Beirut was famous for its school of law. The Roman city was destroyed by a succession of earthquakes, culminating in the quake and tidal wave of 551 ce. When the Muslim conquerors occupied Beirut in 635, it was still mostly in ruins. Roman columns in Beirut, Lebanon. © tobago77/Fotolia Editor Picks: Exploring 10 Types of Basketball Movies Beirut was reconstructed by the Muslims and reemerged as a small, walled garrison town administered from Baalbek as part of the jund (Muslim province) of Damascus . Until the 9th or 10th century, it remained commercially insignificant and was notable mainly for the careers of two local jurists, al-Awzāʿī (d. 774) and al-Makḥūl (d. 933). A return of maritime commerce to the Mediterranean in the 10th century revived the importance of the town, particularly after Syria passed under the rule of the Fāṭimid caliphs of Egypt in 977.

In 1110 Beirut was conquered by the military forces of the First Crusade and was organized, along with its coastal suburbs, as a fief of the Latin kingdom of Jerusalem . As a crusader outpost, Beirut conducted a flourishing trade with Genoa and other Italian cities; strategically, however, its position was precarious because it was subject to raids by the Druze tribesmen of the mountain hinterland. Saladin reconquered Beirut from the crusaders in 1187, but his successors lost it to them again 10 years later. The Mamlūks finally drove the crusaders out in 1291. Under Mamlūk rule, Beirut became the chief port of call in Syria for the spice merchants from Venice . Ottoman rule Eyjafjallajökull volcano Beirut, along with the rest of Syria, passed under Ottoman rule in 1516, shortly after the Portuguese had rounded the African continent (1498) to divert the spice trade of the East away from Syria and Egypt. The commercial importance of Beirut declined as a consequence.

By the 17th century, however, the city had reemerged as an exporter of Lebanese silk to Europe , mainly to Italy and France . Beirut at the time was technically part of the Ottoman province (eyalet) of Damascus , and after 1660 of Sidon . Between 1598 and 1633, however, and again between 1749 and 1774, it fell under the control of the Maʿn and Shihāb emirs (feudal suzerains and fiscal agents) of the Druze and Maronite mountain hinterland. From the mid-17th to the late 18th century, Maronite notables from the mountains served as French consuls in Beirut, wielding considerable local influence. During the Russo-Turkish War of 1768–74, the town suffered heavy bombardment by the Russians. Subsequently it was wrested from the Shihāb emirs by the Ottomans, and it soon shrank into a village of about 6,000. The growth of modern Beirut was a result of the Industrial Revolution in Europe.

Factory-produced goods of the Western world began to invade the markets of Ottoman Syria, and Beirut, starting virtually from nought, stood only to profit from the modern industrial world. The occupation of Syria by the Egyptians (1832–40) under Muḥammad ʿAlī Pasha provided the needed stimulus for the town to enter on its new period of commercial growth. A brief setback came with the end of the Egyptian occupation; by 1848, however, the town had begun to outgrow its walls, and its population had increased to about 15,000. Civil wars in the mountains, culminating in a massacre of Christians by Druzes in 1860, further swelled Beirut’s population, as Christian refugees arrived in large numbers. Meanwhile, the pacification of the mountains under an autonomous government guaranteed by the Great Powers (1861–1914) stabilized the relationship between the town and its hinterland. In 1888 Beirut was made the capital of a separate province (vilâyet) comprising the whole of coastal Syria, including Palestine. By the turn of the century, it was a city of about 120,000.

Meanwhile, Protestant missionaries from Great Britain, the United States , and Germany and Roman Catholic missionaries mainly from France became active in Beirut, particularly in education. In 1866 American Protestant missionaries established the Syrian Protestant College, which later became the American University of Beirut. In 1881 French Jesuit missionaries established St. Joseph University. Printing presses, introduced earlier by Protestant and Roman Catholic missionaries, stimulated the growth of the city’s publishing industry, mainly in Arabic but also in French and English. By 1900 Beirut was in the vanguard of Arabic journalism. A class of intellectuals sought to revive the Arabic cultural heritage and eventually became the first spokesmen of a new Arab nationalism . Modern Beirut Beirut was occupied by the Allies at the end of World War I , and the city was established by the French mandatory authorities in 1920 as the capital of the State of Greater Lebanon, which in 1926 became the Lebanese Republic. The Muslims of Beirut resented the inclusion of the city in a Christian-dominated Lebanon and declared loyalty to a broader Pan-Arabism than most Christians would support. The resultant conflict became endemic .

The accelerated economic growth of Beirut under the French mandate (1920–43) and after produced rapid growth of the city’s population and the rise of social tensions. These tensions were increased by the influx of thousands of Palestinian refugees after 1948. The political and social tensions in Beirut and elsewhere in Lebanon, coupled with Christian-Muslim tensions, flared into open hostilities in 1958 and even more violently in 1975–90. In the violence that marked those years, Beirut became a divided city, depleted of the large, varied, and long-established community of foreigners that had once enriched its social and cultural life and given it the distinctive cosmopolitan character for which it was famed. West Beirut was largely destroyed by heavy fighting between Israeli forces and members of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) in 1982, when Israel launched a full-scale attack on PLO bases operating in the city. Israeli troops surrounded West Beirut, where most PLO guerrilla bases were located, and a series of negotiations brought about the evacuation of PLO troops and leaders from Lebanon to other Arab countries. Divisive sectarian loyalties only increased after the Israeli withdrawal.

Neither the continued Syrian military presence nor the formation of coalition governments could defuse the violence. The shelling persisted, and much of the population fled. In early 1984, following a failed attempt by the Christian-led Lebanese army to consolidate its control in West Beirut by force, the division between the two sides of the city became complete. In East Beirut, order continued to be maintained until 1990 by the army, working in cooperation with the unified Christian militia of the Lebanese Forces (LF). In West Beirut, however, the situation drifted to near total anarchy , as the different Muslim militias repeatedly clashed with one another in the streets to settle sectarian or partisan scores. Security collapsed under these circumstances, and many Lebanese and resident foreigners were taken hostage by different political groups, to remain their prisoners for months or years. Some of the hostages were even killed by groups determined to make a political point. In 1986, leaders in West Beirut pleaded with the Syrians to reenter the city in force and bring the situation under control. Three years later, in 1989, the Lebanese Army in East Beirut subjected West Beirut to months of heavy shelling, ostensibly to liberate the Muslim parts of the capital from Syrian occupation.

In the last stage of the civil war, large parts of East Beirut and its Christian suburbs were destroyed or heavily damaged when the Lebanese army clashed with the LF. The issues leading to the estrangement of these former allies and their eventual confrontation involved the question of whether or not the Ṭāʾif Accord , arrived at in 1989 to restore peace to Lebanon, was acceptable to the Christian side. Unlike the LF and other Christian Lebanese leaders, General Michel Aoun, the Lebanese army commander, maintained that the accord was totally unacceptable in principle. The clashes between the troops under his command and the LF were finally stopped by Syrian military intervention, followed by the forced departure of General Aoun to France. Kamal Suleiman Salibi In the years after the end of the civil war, a major effort was begun to reconstruct Beirut’s devastated infrastructure. The city developed a plan to modernize its transport facilities, restore many of its historic buildings, and revive its economic sectors. After surviving more than a decade of civil war, Beirut hosted the Pan-Arab Games in 1997 and entered the 21st century with a sense of renewed optimism.

Lebanon Lebanon Arabic (official), French, English, Armenian Currency Koullouna Lilouataan Lil Oula Lil Alam Newspaper Al Akhbar, Al Anwar, Al Balad Places to Visit Beirut, Tripoli, Aanjar, Beiteddine Palace, Jeita Grotto Transport Avail several international flights from Beirut airport that directly connect to Europe, Africa, Asia and the Middle East. USA is the only country that does not have any straight links. Avail bus services passing through the route of Beirut and Damascus each and every hour along with taxi services to Lattakia and Hama. Syria shares common land border with Lebanon, so get hold of visa while getting in to Lebanon through Syria borders. Shopping Traditional pottery, glassware, cutlery, braziers, bowls, fluted jugs, ashtrays, swords, wool kaftans, abayas, table linen, gold and silver. Introduction Lebanon positions itself well near the foothills of the Cascade Mountains along the Mid-Willamette Valley, that boasts of historic homes and ancient heritage. Beirut, being its capital city is often named as the "Paris of the Middle East.

Travel to this fantastic location that ensnares you with its bountiful beauties. Physical Map of Lebanon The name Lebanon is referred in Arabic dialect as Lubnan while called as "Lebnan"or "Lebnen"in the native language, which comes from the Semitic basis called as LBN, which has several meaning of its own, with particular reference made to white and milk. The concept even speaks about the existence of the snow-capped mountain range named as the Mount Lebanon. The Middle Eastern country of Lebanon stretches a long way from the Lebanon-Syria border that reaches to about 375 km, while the distance from where the Lebanon-Israel border expands pertains to about 79 km in extent. Lebanon covers a total land area of about 10,452 km² that stands in the 178th position while being the largest nation in the world. Most of the area in Lebanon is bordered with mountainous topography that can be scarcely seen along the narrow coastlines and the Beqaa Valley. Location of Lebanon Lebanon is quietly nestled within the Middle East, which is a mountainous country placed along the eastern end of the Mediterranean Sea.

Lebanon is enclosed by Syria from the northern and eastern front while from Israel towards the southern end. Flag of Lebanon The flag of Lebanon was officially accepted in the month of December 7, 1943. The flag is designed with two parallel-placed red colored bands on the top and the bottom most corner of the flag. A white band is placed in the middle of these two red bands, which stands with a ratio of 1:2:1. A green cedar stands in the middle bands touching the red borders where the color red represents the bloodshed that calls for liberation and emancipation within the province. The white color denotes the resting peace within the region along with the snow-capped mountains prevalent here. The green cedar carries the symbol of immortality and dependability. The cedar as referred within the Bible, flourishes all over like the palm tree, and develops like a cedar in Lebanon. Climate of Lebanon Enjoy a Mediterranean type of climate in Lebanon where the coastal regions are affected with cool and showery winters and hot and moist summers. Temperature usually goes below 0ºC in most of the elevated region, that brings along winter accompanied with dense snowfall. Lebanon is prone to heavy precipitation where the regions of northeastern are heavily affected.

The presence of high peaks along the western region obstructs the rain clouds from getting in, which initiates from the Mediterranean Sea. Flora and Fauna of Lebanon Lebanon boasts of about 3,000 species of assorted ranges of fauna within the area. The vegetation growth basically depends on the sub tropical area to the deserted region. The native plants residing within the region are Olive trees, fig trees, grapevines are placed along the lower ground area while species that reside in higher altitudes are cedar, maple, juniper, fir, cypress, valonia oak, and Aleppo pine forest. Among the wild animals mention can be made of jackals, gazelles and rabbits that are found in the southern region. Different ranges of rodents, mice, squirrels, gerbils, and reptiles can also be sighted here. Bird species like thrushes, nightingales, songbirds, partridges, pigeons, vultures, and eagles are commonly seen within the state. People of Lebanon Catch up with the Mediterranean feel unified with royal hospitality while staying in the region of Lebanon. Arabic is the local dialect spoken here along with the presence of dialects like the French and Armenian. English is even widely accepted within the region.

Get a unique blend of Christians and Muslims settling in great numbers that even provides a gateway to the Arabs. The religious groups thriving here include groups like the Shia Muslim who reside in huge numbers along with the Sunni Muslims, Christians, and Druze. The local people spent their leisure time indulging in skiing and swimming along with participating in canoeing, cycling, climbing, swimming, rafting, sailing and spelunking. arts, Culture and Music of Lebanon Art: The local natives are known for being close to jewels and fashion that can be seen in their antiquities. Wood crafting is a popular trade the native people resort to. One can catch up with handicrafts and other furnishes made of brass, copper, china wares, old guns, Persian carpets, Kuwaiti carved chests, opalines, mother-of-pearl furniture, ceramic painting, moucharabieh carved of wood and much more. Culture: Lebanon is known for holding the best ranges of cuisine, literary skills, musical traditions, and local festivals. Lebanon culture can be well related to the European lifestyle. Do participate in the Baalbeck International Festival, which holds the musical fest annually. Beirut is the local cultural center of the region.

It is a place where functions like the international opera, symphony, ballet, and dramas are performed quite frequently. The summer festivals held at Baalbek, Beiteddine, and Byblos surely enthralls you. Relish the native cuisine that is pampered with the Eastern Mediterranean tastes mainly by the Syria, Turkey, Greece and Cyprus delights. The native dish of the region is kibbe while the local drink is called as arak. Music: Lebanese music has been highly praised for its comforting and relaxing rhythm that goes well with the wild beats. The native and folk music are the two prominent western music heard within the area. From conventional to techno beats, one can indulge in whichever kind of music that soothes one's mind. Economy of Lebanon Lebanon believes in free market management and laissez-faire profitable trading. The Lebanese economy depends largely on the banking and tourism sector. Overseas exchange or capital movement is widely accepted, while the bank's confidentiality is maintained. Lebanon has implemented a regulation for money discrimination within the region. Foreign assistances are boosted within the region. The government lays emphasis on privatization of the telecom and electricity industry, stimulating the process of sale of the state airline along with the usage of water utilities.

Lebanon enforced several reforms like reviving its financial structure, debt management, improving the private and public owned sectors, fiscal consolidation, tax reforms, rationalizing expenditure, and many others. Export: jewelry, construction minerals, inorganic chemicals, consumer goods, fruit, tobacco, electric power machinery, switchgear, textile fibers and paper. Import: cars, medicinal items, petroleum products, clothing, live animals, consumer goods, paper, textile fabrics and tobacco. Industries residing here are banking, tourism, jewelry, cement, food processing, textiles, mineral and chemical industry, wood and furniture products, oil refining, and metal fabricating. Agricultural production includes: tobacco, citrus, grapes, apples, vegetables, tomatoes, potatoes, olives, sheep, and goats. Beirut, Lebanon The Capital Beirut: Beirut, the capital of the Lebanese Republic, has long been considered, by virtue of its strategic location, the crossroads between the three continents of Asia, Africa and Europe, and the gateway to the East. Its million inhabitants are a unique blend of the Eastern and Western cultures. Named Beroth, the city of wells, by the Phoenicians.

It is one of the oldest settlements of man as evidenced by relics from the prehistoric communities. In Phoenician times, however, it was dwarfed by thriving Byblos, Sidon and Tyre. When occupied by the Romans under the command of Pompey in 64 B.C., it entered the most glorious period of its ancient history. In 15 B.C. it was named Colonia Julia Augusta Felix Berythus and acquired the rights of a Roman city-state. What most contributed to its fame, however, was its School of Law which, under Septimus Severus (192 - 211 A.D.) excelled the Schools of Constantinople and Athens and rivalled that of Rome. Beirut retains to this day its role as a great cultural center with great impact on the Middle Eastern region. Its 8 universities have graduated a large number of the area's prime movers and shakers. Its newspapers and publications are read by thousands throughout the Middle East, and it remains the publishing center for the whole area. It is a commercial, banking and financial center for the region as a whole, with about 85 Lebanese and foreign banks, countless import-export companies, arbitrage and triangular trade operations and free exchange market.

The capital still has many touristic attractions to offer, among them the American University of Beirut Museum, the Sursock Museum, the Pigeons' Grotto, many shopping centers and a large number of restaurants with succulent menus from cuisines of the world as well as local Lebanese specialties. Beirut's Universities: Lebanon | Define Lebanon at Dictionary.com Lebanon [leb-uh-nuh n or especially for 1, -non] /ˈlɛb ə nən or especially for 1, -ˌnɒn/ Spell noun 1. a republic at the E end of the Mediterranean, N of Israel. 3927 sq. mi. (10,170 sq. km). Capital: Beirut. a city in SE Pennsylvania. 3. a city in N central Tennessee. 4. a town in central Indiana. 5. a town in W New Hampshire. 6. a town in W Oregon. Dictionary.com Unabridged Examples from the Web for Lebanon Expand Up to Speed: Five Things You Need to Know on Syria Christopher Dickey September 2, 2013 Even before this refugee crisis, Palestinians in Lebanon were not legally allowed to work in most professions.

How Palestinian Refugees from Syria are Forced to Compete in Lebanon and Jordan Matt Surrusco November 5, 2013 Historical Examples These great trees grow in abundance upon the Lebanon range, and cedar wood was very much used in Bible times. The Bible Story Rev. Newton Marshall Hall We are among the mountains of Lebanon, where dwell the descendants of Cain. Our Battery Orlando P. Cutter The hill on the other side of the synagogue was no more the Mountain of Lebanon. Jewish Children Sholem Naumovich Rabinovich What had happened between that time and this day of fate for Lebanon and Manitou? British Dictionary definitions for Lebanon Expand noun 1. the Lebanon, a republic in W Asia, on the Mediterranean: an important centre of the Phoenician civilization in the third millennium bc; part of the Ottoman Empire from 1516 until 1919; gained independence in 1941 (effective by 1945). Official language: Arabic; French and English are also widely spoken. Religion: Muslim and Christian. Currency: Lebanese pound. Capital: Beirut. Pop: 4 131 583 (2013est).

Area: 10 400 sq km (4015 sq miles) Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 Word Origin and History for Lebanon Expand nation in w. Asia, from Semitic root l-b-n "white," probably in reference to snow-capped peaks, or possibly to chalk or limestone cliffs. The Greek name of the island Lemnos is of Phoenician origin and from the same root. Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper Expand Lebanon definition Republic in the Middle East , located on the Mediterranean Sea , bordered to the north and east by Syria and to the south by Israel . Its capital and largest city is Beirut . Note: Lebanon was established in 1920 from remnants of the Ottoman Empire .

Its mixed Christian and Muslim population generally lived peacefully under a weak central government until the 1970s. Israel invaded in 1978 to challenge the Palestine Liberation Organization 's (PLO) influence in Lebanon and to stop PLO raids on Israel. During the 1980s Lebanon became the scene of intense fighting between PLO, Syrian, and Israeli forces, as well as indigenous Christian and Muslim factions. Terrorist bombings and the taking of foreign nationals (including American citizens) as hostages became common events. By 1992, Syria had emerged as the dominant influence in Lebanon. Democratic elections were held in the mid-1990s. The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. Lebanon in the Bible Expand white, "the white mountain of Syria," is the loftiest and most celebrated mountain range in Syria. It is a branch running southward from the Caucasus, and at its lower end forking into two parallel ranges, the eastern or Anti-Lebanon, and the western or Lebanon proper.

They enclose a long valley (Josh. 11:17) of from 5 to 8 miles in width, called by Roman writers Coele-Syria, now called el-Buka'a, "the valley," a prolongation of the valley of the Jordan. Lebanon proper, Jebel es-Sharki, commences at its southern extremity in the gorge of the Leontes, the ancient Litany, and extends north-east, parallel to the Mediterranean coast, as far as the river Eleutherus, at the plain of Emesa, "the entering of Hamath" (Num. 34:8; 1 Kings 8:65), in all about 90 geographical miles in extent. The average height of this range is from 6,000 to 8,000 feet; the peak of Jebel Mukhmel is about 10,200 feet, and the Sannin about 9,000. The highest peaks are covered with perpetual snow and ice. In the recesses of the range wild beasts as of old still abound (2 Kings 14:9; Cant. 4:8).

The scenes of the Lebanon are remarkable for their grandeur and beauty, and supplied the sacred writers with many expressive similes (Ps. 29:5, 6; 72:16; 104:16-18; Cant. 4:15; Isa. 2:13; 35:2; 60:13; Hos. 14:5). It is famous for its cedars (Cant. 5:15), its wines (Hos. 14:7), and its cool waters (Jer. 18:14). The ancient inhabitants were Giblites and Hivites (Josh. 13:5; Judg. 3:3). It was part of the Phoenician kingdom (1 Kings 5:2-6). The eastern range, or Anti-Lebanon, or "Lebanon towards the sunrising," runs nearly parallel with the western from the plain of Emesa till it connects with the hills of Galilee in the south. The height of this range is about 5,000 feet. Its highest peak is Hermon (q.v.), from which a number of lesser ranges radiate.

Lebanon is first mentioned in the description of the boundary of Palestine (Deut. 1:7; 11:24). It was assigned to Israel, but was never conquered (Josh. 13:2-6; Judg. 3:1-3). The Lebanon range is now inhabited by a population of about 300,000 Christians, Maronites, and Druses, and is ruled by a Christian governor. The Anti-Lebanon is inhabited by Mohammedans, and is under a Turkish ruler. Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary Lebanon Facts, Facts about Lebanon Lebanon Facts Where is Lebanon? Lebanon is a west Asian country located in the East Mediterranean. It is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea on the west, Syria on the north and east, and Israel on the south. What is the capital of Lebanon? The capital city of Lebanon is Beirut. With an estimated population of two million, it is the largest city in the country. Owing to its location (at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline), Beirut is considered the largest and main seaport of the country. The city also serves as the cultural and administrative center of Lebanon.

Many government buildings of Lebanon are housed in the capital city. How big is Lebanon? Lebanon covers a total area of 4,036 square miles. Most of the landscape of the country is covered by mountains. As estimated in 2008, the country had a population of 4,224,000. What are the ethnic groups in Lebanon? The population of Lebanon is largely of Arab descent. There are many Palestinian refugees of Muslim origin in the country. The other minority groups consist of people from south-east Asian countries such as Indonesia, Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Malaysia. What are the administrative divisions of Lebanon? Lebanon is divided into six governorates that are further divided into twenty-five districts; the districts are further divided into many municipalities. Who are the political leaders of Lebanon? The government of Lebanon is a parliamentary democracy also practicing confessionalism. Confessionalism is a system where political and institutional power is distributed proportionally among religious communities. President - Michel Suleiman Speaker of Parliament - Nabih Berri What is the official currency used in Lebanon? The Lebanese pound denoted by the ISO 4217 code LBP is the national currency of Lebanon.

It is divided into 100 piastres and is issued by the Central bank of Lebanon, the Banque du Liban. What is the official language of Lebanon? Arabic is the official language of Lebanon. However, French, Lebanese Arabic are also given the status of national languages. English is taught in schools and colleges. The minority languages spoken in the country include Kurdish and Coptic. What is the official religion of Lebanon? Lebanon is divided into many religious groups with Islam being the largest and the most widely practiced religion. The major Muslim sects include the Shia, Sunni, Druze, Isma'ilite, Alawite or Nusayri. Over forty percent of the Lebanese adhere to Christianity; Maronite, Greek Orthodox, Melkite Catholic, Syriac Catholic, Armenian Catholic, Armenian Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Chaldean, and Protestant are the major Christian groups. As estimated, Lebanon has the largest proportion of Christians of any Arab country. What is the economy of Lebanon like? Lebanon has a developing economy having the largest proportion of skilled labor among Arab States.

In 2010, the gross domestic product (PPP) of Lebanon was estimated at $61.581 billion, while the per capita stood at $15,557. Services is the largest sector followed by industries and agriculture. Tourism is an important industry attracting tourists from all over the world to visit the rich historic sites of the country. The mild and pleasant climate is an added advantage. Lebanon exports authentic jewelry, fruit, tobacco, construction minerals, inorganic chemicals, textile fibers and paper; while the major imports include cars, petroleum products, meat, animals, tobacco, and textiles. The principal trade partners of Lebanon are: Syria, Saudi Arabia, Italy, France, United States, Germany, and Switzerland. When is the national day of Lebanon celebrated? The national day of Lebanon is celebrated on November 22 each year. It is celebrated as the Lebanese Independence Day. The day is celebrated to mark the end of the French mandate and the creation of Lebanon as an independent nation. The French ruled Lebanon for over twenty-three years.

Lebanon Map / Geography of Lebanon / Map of Lebanon - Worldatlas.com Print this map The small Middle East mountainous country of Lebanon was first settled around 3000 BC by the Phoenicians. It was eventually absorbed into the Holy Roman Empire. Invaded and conquered over the centuries by the Assyrians, Ayyubids, Babylonians, Byzantines, Mamluks and Ottomans, it was Turkey's defeat in World War I, and the subsequent influence of the French that transformed the country into the modern land we know today. Lebanon finally gained its independence in 1943, but was unfortunately ravaged by a 15-year civil war that ended in 1990. At the war's conclusion, the Lebanese economy had been destroyed, hundreds of thousands were killed, and part of the country was left in ruins. Despite the chaos and turmoil, the Lebanese government and people established a more equitable political system, and began rebuilding the damaged infrastructure of their country. Admittedly, some historic cultural and religious conflicts (rather common in the Middle East ) do remain, and the country still struggles with needed reforms.

In February of 2005, Lebanon's former Prime Minister, Rafik Hariri, was assassinated in a car bomb explosion, subsequently provoking a series of protests in Beirut, known as the Cedar Revolution - whose main goal was the withdrawal of Syrian troops from Lebanon. Following the Cedar Revolution, in the summer of 2006, a group of Hezbollah forces within Lebanon fired rockets at Israeli border towns sparking a war between Israel and Lebanon. Although the war lasted only a few months, the conflict was brutal and bloody resulting in the deaths of over 1,200 citizens. Conflict with Lebanon continued in 2007 as fighting broke out in Nahr al-Bared, a Palestinian refugee camp, against Lebanese Armed Forces and an Islamist militant organization causing the 40,000 residents of the camp to flee the area. In 2011, the national unity government collapsed, pushing Lebanon into a major political crisis. Parliament elected Najib Mikati as Prime Minister making him responsible for the forming of a new government. The 2012 Syrian Civil War caused incidents of sectarian violence and armed clashes between the Sunnis and Alawites.

By April 2014, more than 1 million Syrian refugees had fled to Lebanon. Currently, the U.S. Department of State and other world governments strongly warn citizens against travel to Lebanon during this time, as the country struggles to regain its footing. See Also Capital of Lebanon | Article about capital of Lebanon by The Free Dictionary Capital of Lebanon | Article about capital of Lebanon by The Free Dictionary Related to capital of Lebanon: capital of Israel , Bayrut Beirut (bāro͞ot`), Arab. Bayrut, Fr. Beyrouth, city (1996 est. pop. 1,200,000), W Lebanon, capital of Lebanon, on the Mediterranean Sea, at the foot of the Lebanon Mts. Beirut is an important port and financial center with food processing industries. Tourism is also significant. The American Univ. of Beirut (1866) and Lebanese Univ. (1951) are located in the city. Beirut was originally a Phoenician city and in ancient times was called Berytus. After 1500 B.C. it became known as a trade center.

Beirut was prominent under the Seleucids but became more important under the Romans, when it was not only a commercial town—with a large trade in wine and linens—but also a colony with some territory. In the 3d cent. A.D., Beirut had a famous school of Roman law. The city declined after an earthquake in 551. Beirut was captured by the Arabs in 635. The Crusaders under Baldwin I took the city in 1110, and it was part of the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem until 1291, despite a siege by Saladin and the Egyptians in 1182. After 1517 the Druze controlled the city under the Ottoman Empire. In the 19th cent. Beirut was one of the centers of the revolt of Muhammad Ali Muhammad Ali, 1769?–1849, pasha of Egypt after 1805. He was a common soldier who rose to leadership by his military skill and political acumen. In 1799 he commanded a Turkish army in an unsuccessful attempt to drive Napoleon from Egypt. ..... Click the link for more information. of Egypt against the Ottoman Turks.

Ibrahim Pasha Ibrahim Pasha , 1789–1848, Egyptian general. He was the eldest son of Muhammad Ali, governor of Egypt under the Ottoman Empire. Ibrahim conducted (1816–19) largely successful campaigns against the Wahhabis in Arabia. ..... Click the link for more information. took it for the Egyptians (1830), but in 1840 the French and British bombarded and captured the city, reestablishing Ottoman rule. It was taken (1918) by French troops in World War I. Beirut became the capital of Lebanon in 1920 under the French mandate. The French rapidly developed the city, despite the domestic tensions that arose between the Muslim and Christian populations. After World War II and the creation of Israel in 1948, thousands of Palestinian refugees entered Lebanon, many settling in Beirut. Violence erupted in 1958, and fierce fighting began again in 1975 and 1976 when the civil war broke out. Beirut was divided into territories run by many separate, religious-based militias.

West Beirut was devastated in 1982 by Israeli forces fighting Palestine Liberation Organization Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), coordinating council for Palestinian organizations, founded (1964) by Egypt and the Arab League and initially controlled by Egypt. ..... Click the link for more information. (PLO) units based there. A multinational peacekeeping force was established after some 1,000 Palestinians were massacred by Israel's Lebanese Christian allies. In Apr., 1983, a terrorist bombing partially destroyed the U.S. embassy in Beirut, killing 50 people. In October, 260 U.S. Marines and 60 French soldiers were killed in Beirut when a truck filled with explosives was driven into their military compound. U.S. and French forces were withdrawn in 1984. Throughout the 1980s the city was a base for a number of militant extremist groups. In 1990 Christian and Muslim militias withdrew, ending the division of Beirut and returning it to the control of the national government. However, Beirut's economy and infrastructure had been destroyed by the years of fighting.

In the early 1990s Lebanese billionaire Rafiq Hariri, who became Lebanon's prime minister, launched a multibillion dollar effort, through the company Solidere, to rebuild central Beirut as a symbol of the nation's postwar aspirations. Although there has been much rebuilding, Beirut has not fully recovered its prewar prosperity. Bibliography See L. Fawaz, Merchants and Migrants in Nineteenth Century Beirut (1983); F. Debbas, Beirut, Our Memory (1986); F. Ajami, Beirut: City of Regrets (1988). Beirut capital of the Republic of Lebanon. It lies on a hilly peninsula on the east coast of the eastern Mediterranean. The climate is subtropical with a hot dry summer. The mean January temperature is 14° C, and the mean August temperature is about 28° C. The average annual precipitation is about 900 mm. Estimated population, 700,000 (1964–68). History. Beirut (Benita or Berk in ancient times) was, from the 18th century B.C

Question: What is the capital of The Lebanon
Answer: Beirut